KUALA LUMPUR (May 30): Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz on Friday announced that he has resigned from Umno, relinquishing his positions in the party’s supreme council and Kota Raja division.
He also disclosed that he had informed the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leadership of his intention to join the party.
In a statement on social media, Zafrul confirmed that he has formally submitted his resignation letter to Umno’s leadership, ending his political tenure with the party that began in 1997.
“This was not an easy decision. Before making it, I sought advice and views from my friends both within and outside the party, including the president himself,” he said.
“At the same time, I have conveyed my intention to join the People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) to its president and secretary general,” he said, while noting that he would follow the standard application process to become a member.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my friends, supporters and Umno members who have given me much support and encouragement throughout my time in Umno. Your contributions will never be forgotten,” he said.
Zafrul’s resignation from Umno comes on the heels of the closely watched PKR party polls that saw two members of Parliament (MPs) resign as federal ministers — Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as economy minister and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as natural resources and environmental sustainability minister — on Wednesday.
Zafrul’s intention to join PKR is expected to stir speculation over his next political role, particularly within the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, as the unity government continues to realign internal dynamics.
Amid uncertainty over a Cabinet reshuffle, similarly, Zafrul's future in the Cabinet is still up in the air as his tenure as minister, under the current senatorship, ends this year.
His second stint as senator ends in December. An individual can be a senator twice in a lifetime.
Cabinet ministers have to be either appointed senators or elected as MPs. Zafrul lost his first election in Kuala Selangor against current Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad of Amanah in the 2022 general election.
At the PKR party polls last Friday, Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, failed to retain the deputy president's post after being pitted against Nurul Izzah Anwar. Nik Nazmi, who is Setiawangsa MP, also failed to retain his vice-president's post, with the position going to Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan.
Others seen aligned with Rafizi who lost in this year's PKR polls include Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail and Rawang state assembly rep Chua Wei Kiat, as both failed in their attempt to be division chiefs.